An ARTCC controller described an emergency fuel event involving a lifeguard flight arriving from mex...

Narrative:

A lifeguard aircraft was en route from ZZZZ. ZZZ1 approach manually passed the flight plan to me that was ZZZZ2-ZZZ.....at 10000. Aircraft checked on twenty south of ZZZ1 requesting direct to destination. I told him I needed him to stay on the flight plan route. Aircraft informed me that they were minimum fuel. I called ZZZ1 who coordinates ZZZZ2 airspace since we don't have a direct line to ZZZZ2 approach even though airspace is directly adjacent to us. ZZZ1 told me that he is in uncontrolled airspace and they cannot give me control for the aircraft. I called the lifeguard aircraft and told him ZZZ1 approach told me unable and if the only way they could go to the airport would be to declare emergency fuel. Aircraft declared emergency fuel at which point I cleared them direct to his destination. Coordinated with aircraft destination approach and aircraft landed safely. There was no way to prevent occurrence without redesign of the foreign country's airspace. Ability for direct coordination with ZZZZ2 would have been very helpful. Tone of pilot's voice sounded like they very much needed direct the airport and the only way I could do that would be emergency fuel; not minimum fuel. That's why I gave the pilot that option and he declared emergency fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An ARTCC Controller described an emergency fuel event involving a Lifeguard flight arriving from Mexican airspace. The reporter informed the aircraft an emergency fuel declaration was the only way a direct routing could be issued.

Narrative: A lifeguard aircraft was en route from ZZZZ. ZZZ1 Approach manually passed the flight plan to me that was ZZZZ2-ZZZ.....at 10000. Aircraft checked on twenty south of ZZZ1 requesting direct to destination. I told him I needed him to stay on the flight plan route. Aircraft informed me that they were minimum fuel. I called ZZZ1 who coordinates ZZZZ2 Airspace since we don't have a direct line to ZZZZ2 Approach even though airspace is directly adjacent to us. ZZZ1 told me that he is in uncontrolled airspace and they cannot give me control for the aircraft. I called the lifeguard aircraft and told him ZZZ1 Approach told me unable and if the only way they could go to the airport would be to declare emergency fuel. Aircraft declared emergency fuel at which point I cleared them direct to his destination. Coordinated with aircraft Destination Approach and aircraft landed safely. There was no way to prevent occurrence without redesign of the foreign country's Airspace. Ability for direct coordination with ZZZZ2 would have been very helpful. Tone of pilot's voice sounded like they very much needed direct the airport and the only way I could do that would be emergency fuel; not minimum fuel. That's why I gave the pilot that option and he declared emergency fuel.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	879197
Time
Date	201003
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.ARTCC
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Light Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 4500 Flight Crew Type 800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

An ARTCC controller described an emergency fuel event involving a lifeguard flight arriving from mexican airspace. The reporter informed the aircraft an emergency fuel declaration was the only way a direct routing could be issued.